Deadly wrong-way crash blocks lanes on SR-167 in Renton, WA

Early Tuesday morning, a wrong-way driver crashed into a semi-truck on SR-167 in Renton, Washington, resulting in the death of the wrong-way driver and injuries to the truck driver. The Washington State Patrol confirmed that the semi driver was taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued an alert around 2:30 a. m. , indicating that all northbound lanes were blocked just south of I-405 due to the collision.

Traffic was heavily impacted, with backups stretching approximately seven miles by 6:30 a. m. Many commuters diverted to I-5, leading to additional congestion and delays of 25–30 minutes on alternate routes. By 8:09 a. m.

, WSDOT reported that the scene was cleared and northbound lanes had reopened. This incident raises important questions about road safety and the dangers of wrong-way driving. The ongoing investigation by the Washington State Patrol aims to uncover more details about the circumstances leading to this tragic event.